The White-Throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), also known as the European dipper, is an aquatic passerine bird found across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. It typically measures about 18 cm (7.1 in) in length, with a brown head, slate-grey back, and distinctive white throat, chestnut band, and black belly.
This bird prefers swiftly flowing rivers and streams, often seen bobbing on rocks. It is known for its rapid flight and can dive for food, primarily aquatic invertebrates like caddis worms, beetles, and small crustaceans. Although it can walk into the water, it swims beneath the surface using its wings.
Breeding occurs when they are one year old, with monogamous pairs defending territories. Nests are usually built near water from moss and grass, containing 1-8 eggs. The female incubates while the male provides food. The eggs hatch in about 16 days, and the parents care for the chicks until they fledge at around 22 days. The maximum recorded age for a white-throated dipper is over 10 years.
